Extension-couch.



T. B. LAYCOGK. EXTENSION ooUcH.

APPLICATION EILED AUG. 20, 1910.

Patented Jan. 10,191.1.

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UNTTFD STATES PATENT @FFIE THOMAS B. LAYCOCK, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO T. B. LAYCOCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA.

INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF.

EXTENSION-COUCH.

Application iled August 20, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS B. LAYoocK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension- Couches, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to improvements in couches having folding side-members which are capable of being extended to increase the width of the bed.

The object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and easily operated means for supporting the folding side members in the various adjustments of which they are capable, and to provide a means which will avoid accidental release, but which will be capable of quick and positive release, without expert handling, when it is desired either to raise or to lower said side members.

The object also is to provide means which will permit the side members to be moved independently of each other into vertical positions either above or below the seat portion or body of the couch whereby, by raising both side members into vertical positions above the couch the latter may be converted into a crib with sides to prevent small children from falling out of the bed, or it may be converted into a couch with a back by placing one of tle side members in a vertical position above the seat and the other side member in a vertical position depending` from the seat, or both of the side members may be placed vertically below the seat to reduce the couch to its minimum width.

The invention comprises details of construction and combination of parts, which will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of one end of a. couch, in open position, embodying the features of th is invention. Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation, looking at the lower end of the couch shown in Fig. l, except that the folding member at the right side of the couch is in vertical elevated position in full lines. This folding member is also shown in horizontal position in dotted lines and in depending oblique and vertical positions in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a detail in plan View of the hinge connection at one end of one of the folding side members showing its manner of attachment to the body of the couch,

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, i911.

Serial No. 578,077.

and showing the slot in the folding member for the passage of the segment-rack by which the side member is supported in its various adjustments. Fig. 4l; is a detail in side elevation of the end of the frame of the side member shown in Fig. 8, and is particularly intended to illustrate the elongated slot to receive the hinge pin, and Fig. 5 is a detail in side elevation and partial vertical section of a segment-rack-of a somewhat modified form, and associated parts, on a larger scale than that shown in Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The couch will be supported upon four posts 6, the major and upper portions of which will st-and normally vertical, but will preferably be bent outwardly as shown at 7, at their lower ends to increase the area of the base. The lower ends of the posts will be provided with the roller casters 8 of usual construction. The posts at the ends of the couch will be united in pairs as shown in Fig. 2 by means of a horizontal bar 9, preferably of angle-iron, to which the folding side members will be hinged, and also to which the bed bottom will i-n part be fastened. Below the bar 9 is a horizontal bar l0 which connects the same pair of legs, and 11 are diagonal braces, as shown. There will be a pair of legs thus united, at each end of the couch, and the two pairs will be joined together by means of the side rails 12 (see Fig. l), in the usual manner.

The couch body thus formed is provided with two folding side members which are pivot-ally attached to the ends of the horizontal bars 9, and the ends of the bars 9 will be made to project beyond the posts tl, as shown, for the convenient attachment to them of the said folding side members. The folding side members will each comprise a frame, preferably formed out of angle-iron (or steel) consisting of the outside longitudinal members 13 and the members 14 which are two in number for each folding side member, one at each end of said folding member, substantially at right angles to the outside member 13, and these will preferably be braced and stiffened by the diagonal braces l5 at the corners.

As the construction, attachment and operation of the two folding side members is the same a description of one will suffice for both: The in ner ends of the end members 14 have their horizontal flanges (which are placed uppermost) cut away, shown at 16 in Fig. 3, to avoid interference with the bar 9, and the protruding side flange which thus results is pivotally connected by meansY of a rivet or bolt 18 to the end of the bar 9. With both end members 14 of the folding side members thus pivotally attached to the ends of bars 9 of the couch the folding side member is capable of a swinging adjustment as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The means for retaining the folding side members in horizontal and in raised vertical and various oblique positions will now be described. Secured to the top of each of the four posts 6 is a segment rack 20 formed out of strap metal and bent laterally and outwardly of the couch. This bent portion is the segment of an annulus of which the pivot 18 is the center. This segn'ient-rack is in the path of the end 14 which requires that the end be slotted as shown at 22 (see Fig. 3) for the passage of said rack through the end member. The rack 20 will be provided with as many notches 23 in its outer edge as there are adjustments or positions in which it is desired to retain the folding side members, except that a depending vertical position such as is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 will be retained by gravity without any locking means being required. The racks 2() are here shown as notched for horizontal and raised vertical positions, and also for several oblique positions.

It will be noted that the perforation 24 in the member 14 for the passage of rivet 18 is elongated forming a slot which extends longitudinally of the member 14. This permits of an adjustment of the folding side member edgewise or in a direction longitudinally of the members 14, whereby, by suitably proportioning the length of the slots 22 the metal of the top flange through which the slot is formed, at the outer end 26 of the slot may be pushed into one of the notches 23 of the segment-rack, which will secure the folding side member against swinging movement so long as the portions 2G remain in the notches of the segment rack. Means for normally drawing the folding side members in toward the body of the couch is afforded by the elastic bed bottom illustrated in Fig. 1. This bed bottom comprises a plurality of longitudinal rows of wire links 30 which are joined together by a plurality of rows of transverse links 31. The longitudinal rows 30 are connected by diagonal links 32 with helical springs 33, which springs 33 are connected to the bar 9 and ends 14 as shown in Fig. 1. In addition the bed bottom is connected at suitable intervals by the links 35 with the side members 13 of the folding side members of the couch with the result thatthe general tendency of the resilient bed bottom is to normally draw the members 13 toward each o ther or inwardly, and to cause the folding` side membes to be drawn toward the body of the couch. This action causes the ends 2.6 of the slots 22 to press normally against the outer edge of their segment-racks when out of the notches 23 and causes the parts 2G to enter. the first notches they come to unless sufficiently restrained by an outward pull by the person operating the folding member. suflieient to resist the normal pull of the spring bed bottom.

To prevent any possible accidental displacement when the folding side members are in horizontal position as a bed, as by a person stumbling against a corner of the bed, or the like, a notch or depression 34'is provided in the slot 24 for the rivet 18 to enter. This will not interfere with the release of the folding side member as an upward pull on the side rail 13 disengages the rivet 18 from notch 34 immediately. The spirally wound independent springs 38, placed under the above described bed bottom, afford additional means for elastically drawing the folding side members inwardly of the couch. y l

It will be observed by examination of Fig. 2, particularly at that portion of said figure where the folding side member is represented by full and dotted lines, that only half of an annulus is required for the sup` port and adjustment of said folding side member, but it is preferred to continue the curvature toward the legs 6 to bring the material of the metal bar out of which the rack is formed into alinement with the legs G, and to extend this portion of the bar vertically above the horizontal bar 9 to form a support for the upper portion of the segment rack which latter is extended horizontally in an inward direction to meet the vertically extended opposite end of said rack. In 110 practice it has been found that a more solid and better construction is secured by connecting the upper ends of the segment racks by means of a horizontal extension 40, in fact, the two segment racks for an end of 115 the couch are formed out of one single bar of metal. This bar 40 is supported by the vertical extensions of the ends of the racks and the construction thus obtained serves as a head and foot piece to the couch to mark 120 the limit of the couch and retain the mattresses and bed clothes. Obviously additional braces may be used where the require` ments may demand it.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the 125 upper corner of all of the notches but the top one are cut away at 42 to provide a gradual curve or eccentric which, when the folding side member is raised will cause the said member to be automatically moved in an 130 outward direction out of the notch or in contact with the circular outer edge of the rack bar. This, it will also be observed, causes the folding member to automatically enter the reduced portion of the segment rack and lock itself upon the shcul der thus formed at the lowering' of the side member.

Notches are provided, as shown, to hold the folding side members in raised oblique positions, when a reclining couch-bach is desired, as for invaiids or others desiring a comfortable position, and notches are also provided in the lower arc of the segment, (shown in the inner edge in Fig. 2 and in the outer edge in Fig. 5), to retain the folding member in an oblique lowered position as a rest for the feet and legs.

As will be understood, the construction of the frame of the couch, and of the folding side members, may be varied to suit the requirement, and other means than that afforded by the spring action of the bedbottom may be employed to normally press `the folding side members against their retaining racks, or means fo-r such purpose may be altogether dispensed with, and while the construction here shown and described is the best now known, it may be variously modified by those skilled in the art without departure from this invention.

Vhat is claimed as new, and on which a patent is desired, is-

1. A couch-frame, segment racks-secured to the frame said racks having notches, folding side members hinged to said frame and adapted to engage the notches of the racks, means permitting the edgewise adjustment of said folding side members toward and from the frame to permit their engagement with or disengagement from the notches of said racks.

Q. A couch-frame, segment racks secured to the frame said racks having notches, folding side members hinged to said frame, means permitting the edgewise 4adjustment of the side members toward and from the frame to lock them in a predetermined position when moved toward the frame by engagement with notches of said racks, and means for moving` said folding side members normally toward said couch-frame.

A couch-frame, segment racks secured to the frame said racks having notches, folding side members hinged to said frame, means permitting the edgewise adjustment of the side members toward and from the frame to lock them in a predetermined position when moved toward the frame by engagement with notches of said racks, and springs for moving said folding side members normally toward said couch-frame.

4. A couch-frame, segment racks rigidly secured to the frame said racks having notches in their outer edges, folding side members hinged to said frame and adapted @s elia to engage the notches of the rack, means permitting the edgewise adjustment of said folding side members toward and from the rigidly secured segment. racks, and springs to move the folding side members normally toward said racks.

A couch-frame, segment racks rigidly secured to the frame, said racks having notches in their outer edges, folding side members hinged to said frame, means permitting the edgewise adjustment of the side members toward and from the frame to lock them in a predetermined position when moved toward the frame by engagement with the notches of said racks, said side members being slotted and said racks passing through the slots in said side members, and means for moving the side members normally toward said frame.

6. A couch-frame, segment racks rigidly secured to the frame, said racks having notches in their outer edges, said notches having eccentric sides leading thereto, folding side members hinged to said frame, means permitting the edgewise adjustment of the side members toward and from the frame to lock them by engagement with notches of said racks, and means for moving the side members normally into bearing` contact against the notched edges of the racks.

7. A couch-frame, segment racks rigidly secured to the frame, said racks having notches in their outer edges, folding side members, means for adjustably hinging the side members to said frame whereby said side members are adapted to engage the notches of said racks at certain adjustments toward the racks of said folding side members, and spring bed-bottoms secured to the couch-frame and to the folding side members and normally drawing the side members into bearing contact against the notched edges of the racks.

8. A couch-frame comprising posts, transverse bars connecting said posts, segment racks secured in a rigid manner to the frame, folding side members, means hinging said side member to said frame and permitting the adjustment of said members toward and from the couch-frame, means on said folding side members to engage the notches of said segment racks and lock said members, and means to normally move the side members into engagement with the notches of said segment racks.

9. A couch-frame comprising posts, transverse bars connecting said posts, pivot pins carried by said frame, segment racks rigidly secured to the frame, and folding side members hinged to said pins'on the frame, the hinge connection being in slots of the folding side members which permit the adjustment of said members on their hinge pins, said folding side members having slots through which the said segment racks are7 passed, the metal at the ends of the slots being adapted by the adjustment of the folding side members permitted by their slotted hinged connections to enter the notches of the segment racks when said side members are moved toward said racks.

10. A couch-frame comprising posts, pivot pins carried by said frame, segment racks rigidly secured to the frame, folding side members hinged to said pins on the frame, the hinge connection being in slots of the folding side members which permit the adjustment of said members on their hinge pins, said folding side members having slot-s through which the said segment racks are passed, the metal at the ends of the sl'ots being adapted by the adjustment of the folding side members permitted by their slotted hinged connections to enter the notches of the segment racks when said side members are moved toward said racks, and means for moving the folding side members normally into contact with the notched edges of said segment racks.

ll. A couch frame comprising posts,

transverse bars connecting said posts, fold` ing side members hinged to said frame and adjustable on its hinges toward and from the couch-frame, a horizontal bar above said posts bent edgewise at each end downwardly in curves concentric with the pivot pins hinging the folding side members to the couch-frame, the edges of said bent portions being notched and forming segment racks, said folding side members having slots through which the segment racks are passed, the ends of the slots being adapted to engage the notches of the segment racks when the folding side members are moved laterally of their hinges.

12. A couch frame comprising posts,

transverse bars connecting said posts, folding side members hinged to said frame and adjustable on their hinges toward and from the couch-frame, a horizontal bar above said posts bent edgewise at each end downwardly in curves concentric with the pivot pins hinging the folding side members to the couch-frame the edges of said bent portions being notched and forming segment racks, and means on said folding side members to engage the notches of said segment racks and lock said members.

13. A couch-frame, segment racks rigidly supported by the frame, said racks having notches, folding side members, pivot pins upon which said side members fold, the opposite part from that having the pivot pins being slotted to allow edgewise adjustment of their folding side members, and means on said folding side members to engage the notches of said seO'ment racks and loclr said members.

lil. A couchframe comprising posts, transverse bars connecting said posts, segment racks secured in a rigid manner to the frame, pivot-pins carried by said frame, folding side members hinged to said pins, the hinge connection being in slots of the folding side members which permit the adjustment of said members on their hinges, and means on said folding side members to engage the notches of said segment racks and lock said members.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this, 15th day of Aug., A. D. one thousand nine hundred and ten.

THOMAS B. LAYCOCK.

Vitnesses:

J. A. MIN'rURN, F. WV. WOERNER. 

